【Mike Horner Archives】

iOS 17.5 beta 2 has rolled out to users registered to the Apple Developer Program,Mike Horner Archives allowing them to test a gaggle of new features.

iOS 17.5, reportedly weeks away from an official release, is set to be the fifth significant update since Apple officially dropped iOS 17 in September (alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models). Curious about the new perks you can explore with iOS 17.5 beta 2? Here are the top five features in the new version.

SEE ALSO: iOS 18 rumors: Everything we know about the next big iPhone update

iOS 17.5 beta 2: 5 new features

The new features include an update that complies with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), allowing users in the European Union to download and install apps from certain third-party websites, but there are other perks that may interest the wider public.

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New Apple News+ game

Reserved for users with an Apple News+ subscription, iOS 17.5 beta 2 now has a new game called "Quartiles." The game requires users to combine tiles to create words.

News can be fun, too. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For example, according to a screenshot from MacRumors, you can combine the following four tiles — "art," "ist," "ic," and "ally" — to make the word "artistically."

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Expanded sideloading

iPhone users within the EU are now capable of downloading apps from directlyfrom Apple app developers' websites sans using the Apple App Store (or a third-party app marketplace). iOS 17.4 introduced sideloading to EU users, but with iOS 17.5 beta 2, there's now a new way to download apps. The functionality is not yet available for iPad users.

'Palestinian flag' emoji fix

As we reported last week, Apple said it was releasing a fix for a bug that caused the Palestinian flag to appear when some users typed the word "Jersualem."

Only some users reported seeing the Palestinian flag after typing "Jerusalem." Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

With iOS 17.5 beta 2, it looks like the Cupertino-based tech giant followed through with its promise. No emojis populate when the word is typed in the Messages app.

New 'Tip' for Notes app

Under iOS 17.5 beta 2, a new "Tip" banner appears on the bottom of the Notes app, allowing users to get a better understanding on how to organize their notes by tags, checklists, and more.

New 'Reading Goals' indicator in Apple Books

In the Apple Books app, iOS 17.5 beta 2 added a tiny new symbol on the upper-right corner. Once you tap it, it will bring you to your Reading Goals page.

The Apple Books app got a new indicator. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The official iOS 17.5 wide public rollout is expected to be some time in early May, perhaps alongside the oft-rumored iPad Air and iPad Pro launch.

Topics iOS iPhone

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